Nine IC Preschool and Elementary teachers traveled to Bucharest, Romania for a PYP conference over the summer and have begun to present their workshop ideas and strategies to their colleagues. Reading, Writing and Inquiry in PYP was the topic Ras Beirut Elementary teacher Roula Haj Ismail offered this week. In true PYP style, the students in the workshop could not be passive listeners, but had to actively participate by writing on 3x5 shape cards, a significant memory of something that influenced them as a reader and writer from childhood to the present. A memory on a circle card indicated the influence was a person, triangle a book and a square if it was an event. A plus or minus sign showed a positive or negative influence. The shapes were taped to a timeline on the wall demonstrating clearly that the majority were influenced by a teacher while they were under the age of 10. Next came a brainstorming session for ideas on how to maximize on reading and writing as tools followed by a self-survey to allow teachers to have an objective view of what their teaching style is in reading and writing. The final step was reflection on whether practices reflect beliefs.
 | | As with all PYP events, passive listening is not an option. |
 | | By the time all the shaped memory cards were placed on the timeline, it was clear the major influence had been teachers. |
 | | Brainstorming for ways to use reading and writing as tools was part of the activity. |
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